The flames burned all night until the trash on the garbage mountain, including the vagrants who hadn't managed to escape, turned to ash, and only then, with nothing left to burn, did the fire gradually die out.
Time takes away everything.
Following the burning of the Gray Terminal and the covert uprising of the Revolutionary Army...
Bai Yun, Luffy, and Ace's lives returned to peace... The following noon was the day the Celestial Dragons were set to arrive at the Goa Kingdom, and a grand ceremony was already prepared at the kingdom's main port to welcome the ship's docking.
Bai Yun came to buy burn medicine for everyone, and while he was at it, he stayed to watch the spectacle.
He wanted to see these Celestial Dragons who had indirectly caused countless people to perish in the flames—they would be one of the strongest enemies he would face in the future.
"The government's ship is here!"
Someone in the crowd yelled out.
Bai Yun looked in that direction; the World Noble's ship, massive enough to resemble a castle on the sea, appeared in his view.
The emblem on the bow was a shield shaped like a lion's head.
The sails were painted with the World Government's totem—five black spheres connected in a cross shape, one in the center and one on each of the four sides.
The moment the people on the dock saw the ship, they erupted in cheers, feeling that seeing the true splendor of the World Nobles made their lives worthwhile.
Bai Yun smiled, moved away from the crowd, and walked toward the entrance to Mount Colubo; watching from the shadows was enough, as who knew if a Celestial Dragon might suddenly go mad and attack someone... The ship docked, a gangplank was lowered to the shore, and first, two people in suits stepped down to lay a red carpet over it.
The King of the Goa Kingdom approached with a fawning expression and respectfully addressed the Celestial Dragon on the ship.
"With the highest reverence, we welcome the World Noble, Saint Jalmack, to inspect the Goa Kingdom."
This was immediately followed by another round of cheers.
Amidst the cheers, Saint Jalmack slowly descended from the ship, seated on the back of a tall slave, with two other slaves guarding him from behind.
If he were to fall, no one here would survive.
Seeing this, Bai Yun looked down at the people, eager to know how the nobles below would react to a World Noble using a slave as a mount.
"He's riding down on a slave?"
"What style! Is this the way of a World Noble?"
"It's worth studying, truly worth studying!!"
Bai Yun was stunned, a wave of nausea rushing straight to his heart. He was certain this kingdom was beyond saving.
Just as Bai Yun felt nauseated, a gaze instantly shot toward him—it was the gaze of a masked CP0 member following behind Saint Jalmack.
As the gaze struck, Bai Yun instantly felt his hair stand on end without meeting eyes, but he quickly adjusted, looking at Saint Jalmack, forcing a smile and applause while suppressing his nausea.
With that, the gaze slowly moved away.
The next second, Bai Yun turned around and bolted.
That single flash of a look had been quite intimidating.
"I wonder who would win if I brought out my trump card: replicating Shanks and his crew?"
Bai Yun was pondering whether he could have won if the owner of that gaze had immediately come after him.
But regardless, winning or losing, it would be a huge hassle... By the time Bai Yun returned to Dadan's house, Luffy was already jumping around, playing with a rhinoceros beetle in front of the door.
Seeing this, Bai Yun couldn't help but envy their constitutions.
"Bai Yun! You're back!"
"You were so cool last night! How did you do that? A wind cannon burst from your palm, and Lan-chan was instantly defeated by a single move!!"
As soon as Bai Yun returned, Luffy clung to him, asking questions and looking at him with starry eyes.
Ace also walked out of the house, but he looked at Bai Yun with a hint of displeasure.
Bai Yun knew Ace was blaming him for hiding his strength, wondering why he hadn't gone all out during their previous spars, especially since he had lost to Ace so many times.
Heaven knows, Bai Yun thought, he truly couldn't beat them back then, and if it hadn't been for the situation last night, he wouldn't have wanted to use the trump card of Uncle Dragon's ability.
"Ace, Luffy, go inside and change your medicine."
"I need to tell you about Sabo, and also about myself."
Ace's eyes widened slightly, and he nodded.
"Sabo? What happened to Sabo?"
Luffy, meanwhile, wondered why they needed to talk about Sabo.
"You'll find out in a moment."
Bai Yun replied vaguely... The sea breeze brushed their faces.
After changing their dressings, the three of them went to the cliff where they had drunk their sake of brotherhood, gazing at the glittering sea.
Although one was missing, it was alright; this time, they all knew Sabo was alive, striving toward his own future, working hard for his freedom and even the freedom of many others.
Embraced by the sea breeze, Bai Yun told Ace and Luffy about Sabo, his Devil Fruit ability, and his non-existent older brothers.
"So, Sabo already left with the man who saved the vagrant uncles."
Luffy asked.
Bai Yun nodded. Yes, that man was someone you, Luffy, could call both familiar and unfamiliar.
"That's good. Sabo has gone out to sea and gained his freedom."
"I just didn't realize that you, Bai Yun, had already been out to sea."
Ace sat on the edge of the cliff, holding up his pipe and gazing at it, seemingly reminiscing about his past experiences with Sabo.
Sabo was arguably his only best friend before Luffy and Bai Yun arrived.
"I was just a deckhand, that's all. I couldn't do anything, but life at sea was truly interesting, especially the day we got our commission—everyone was so happy."
Bai Yun had rehearsed the details of this fake identity countless times, so the words flowed readily.
Ace stood up and patted his shoulder.
"Once we set sail, once we become strong, we'll definitely have a chance for revenge."
"The three of us will always be your helpers."
"That's right! Bai Yun, if we meet your enemies after we set sail, I'll help you send them flying!!"
"Just like I'm definitely going to send the Lord of the Coast flying the day I set sail!!"
Bai Yun put his arms around both their shoulders.
"Hahahaha, then I'll be relying on you two."
"Just like you said yourself, Ace, the four of us are each other's helpers. No matter what the future holds, you have to remember what you said."
"Sabo has already gone toward his future."
"I promised him we'd meet at the top!"
"We can't lose to him!!"
Ace and Luffy grinned, showing a row of white teeth, and shouted toward the sea.
"Of course not!!"
...
A/N: The journey continues! If you're eager to read far ahead and support this story, consider joining the Eternal Phoenix community. You can find me on Patreon by searching for "Eternal_Phoenix".
Get access to 50+ advanced chapters.
Membership starts at just $6.
Your support makes a world of difference and helps me write more!
Thank you for reading!